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Welcome to MISU

Giving you a voice, helping you to use it, enriching your college experience!

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Are you interested in becoming joining the Executive Committee? There will be an election in Semester One and any student can apply.

 

By Election Exec

We asked the students who will be working as Guides at Orientation for their advice for first year students starting in MIC. They provided their tips and tricks for everything from lectures and assignments, MISU and college supports, nights out and events and practical advice for budgeting, living in student accommodation and much more! We have included these as top tips in other articles and have more of their advice below.

 

They are a friendly bunch and will be there to help at Orientation so make sure to ask them if you have a question or are not sure where to go.

 

Student Advice 1

Student Advice 2

Student Advice 3

Student Advice 4

Student Advice 5

 

 

Making friends 1

 

It may be daunting going to college, especially if none of your friends from home are going to the same college as you. It can be a scary thing starting a course not knowing anyone. But fear not, we are here to share some of the many ways to make friends.

 

Making friends in your Accommodation

Making friends 2

The people you will probably meet first are those you live with. Organise different things to do with each other - you could go out for a meal, go to the cinema or find a shared interest to bond over. These might be the people you end up going out with, and it's a good start if ye can get along, so introduce yourself to them and take the time to find out more about them at the earliest possible opportunity.

 

Through your Students' Union

Making friends 3

MISU runs a range of Clubs & Socs, where everyone involved has something in common. It would be worthwhile to join some of these, or else set up your own. Clubs & Socs run a range of events throughout the year, which you can get involved in.

Becoming a Class Rep and/or Exec member would be beneficial, as you would be meeting the other Reps regularly, and you will get to know others from other years and courses, potentially becoming good friends.

There are also many teams in the college, which will be looking out for new members each academic year. If you have any interest in any of them, it would be worth trying out.

 

Within your Class

Making friends 4

There are regular class events held throughout the year. If possible, it would be advisable to try to attend these, as it will help you to get to know people in your class better.

Don’t be afraid to talk to strangers in your class, they are most likely feeling the same way as you are. It can be hard for some people to go up and talk to strangers, but it possibly is the best way to meet new friends.

 

 

If you need more support:

If you do feel like you’re struggling, there are places to go. You can call in to us the Students Union for a chat. We will be willing to talk to you and discuss any possible issues you may be having. There is also the chaplaincy, which gives free tea/coffee, where you can sit and have a chat too. In Thurles, there is a chaplain who you can speak to also. You shouldn’t ever feel like you’re alone in Mary I, and we will try our best to avoid that situation arising. In situations where you are feeling overwhelmed and very upset, there are counselling services available on both campuses, so drop into them and they will be able to help you.

Budget pic

 

It’s important to get a grip on spending and find out what works for you when it comes to managing your money. The cost of college can add up quickly, so we’ve gathered as much advice as we could to guide you.

 

1. Prioritise                                                 

You’re new to college, you may have more freedom than you’ve ever had before and maybe this is the first time you’ve had a real sense of financial independence, which is why you need to think before you spend! In the wise words of Ron Weasley...

Budget ron weasley

Set an amount that you can afford to spend a week. Ask yourself – Have I enough money for food for the week? How much do I need to get home at the weekend? Do I need to buy anything for college this week? How much should I keep for emergencies (a sale in River Island doesn’t count!!). When you have this sorted, THEN you’ll know what you have for treats, nights out and the other non-essentials. It’s all about balance!

 

*Top tip: Re evaluate all purchases three times. And then again! - ECCE student.

 

2. Keep track of costs                                     

It may seem a bit extra but keep track of your spending as much as possible. Apps can be your best friend for this. We’d recommend Spending Tracker, Money Lover and Splitwise is good for any bills you need to split among a house/with roommates. Bonus: they’re all free!

 

3. Find the student discounts                           

Join Unidays where you can get discount codes, use your student card in shops where they have student discounts. There really is a multitude of student deals out there! An Siopa, the shop on campus, has food and college supplies at student friendly prices. Top tip: For Microsoft packages (Word, Powerpoint, Excel etc), you get them free through your Student email online (Outlook).

 

 

4. Leave your bank card at home on a night out

Take enough money with you to cover your food or drink, entry in to clubs and taxis there and home. By leaving your bank card at home, you can resist the temptation to dip in for more money that you haven’t budgeted for. Plus it’s a hassle to cancel and replace if you lose it!

 

5. Shop around and find the deals                    

When we asked current MIC students for their advice on budgeting, so many of them said to plan your food shop, make a list and stick with Lidl or Aldi. It’s cheaper, you get more for your money plus Lidl is the closest to campus.

 

6. Stay out of your overdraft                            

Seriously, it may be tempting but it’s money you don’t have and you will need to pay it back! Spending money that isn’t yours is a really bad habit to get in to and it’s much easier in the long run to budget than overspend.

 

7. Budget for placements                                 

Some courses have placement in first year and expenses can be something students don’t expect. You’ll be told in your induction lectures when you’ll be on placement and our advice is to PLAN. As one B.Ed student recommends ‘put money aside from the get go as the cost of placement really does add up. Bulk buying in groups and sharing with others in your course or from the years above and below can cut the cost’. Wise words!

 

8. Know where you can go for help                    

If you are struggling to manage your spending, talk to someone. Drop in to the SU, talk to a Sabbat, or a friend or family member to get some advice and guidance.

 

There are also funds and assistance for MIC students if you need them. There is a Student Assistance Fund which is allocated by the Access Office in the college.

There are also an Emergency Welfare Fund available to students that is managed by the Access Office and MISU. Drop in to us or the Access Office to find out more.

Then there is the Food and Essentials Hub in the SU. This is free to all students. It has non-perishable breakfast, lunch and dinner items as well as hygiene products and college essentials. Don’t be stuck, drop in to us and we’ll get you sorted.

 

Budget cartoon

 

 

 


MISU is the recognised representative body of the students of MIC. It is your Union; the officers are elected to work for you to make your college experience better.
By getting involved, you will help to shape your student experience, will make new friends and will learn valuable skills which you can add to your CV!


How can I get involved?

MISU


1. Run for election                                      


This can be as simple as deciding to become a Class Rep, to realising you’d love to be a member of the Executive Committee (the part-time student officerships) all the way to making the leap to put your name in the hat to run as a Sabbatical Officer.
If you do decide one of these roles is for you, first things first, find out how to apply! Talk to us in MISU about your interest, follow our social media, watch out for emails from us or listen to our Class Addresses in lectures at the start of the year. It’s easy to apply and you won’t regret it!

There are positions on the Executive Committee and there will be a by-election in Semester 1, find out more here.


2. Join a Club or Society (or set one up!)   


We talk all about the various socs and clubs in MIC as well as the benefits students get by joining in the Clubs & Socs advice here.


3. Vote in MISU Elections                            


Every member of MISU has a vote and it is up to you to use it! MISU is governed by a constitution (the binding document approved by students which outlines how MISU should be run), and nothing can change in this without the student input via a referendum vote.
Student officers (full time Sabbats and part-time Executive Committee students) run for election and need to be elected by the student body. Your vote is your voice and elections, by-elections (another election for unfilled positions) and referenda allow you to have your say in MISU.


4. Attend a MISU Meeting                             


MISU Meetings are not quite as formal as they sound, we promise! They do have to follow a certain format (as per our constitution) to allow for transparency and accountability to all students but, more importantly, they are an opportunity for students to let their officers know what’s happening in their college life.
There’s Union Council – a forum open to all students but only Class Reps, Sabbats, the Chairperson and nominated Executive Committee members have voting rights. These meetings are held every two weeks during the semester and are the place to go with everyday concerns and feedback for MISU.
Then there’s the Union General Meetings (UGMs). The UGM is the supreme governing body of MISU (it’s a big deal). These tend to be a bit more formal but this is so important as every student has a vote. This is where your Sabbats and Executive Committee give their reports on their work and where students can give their feedback and mandate their officers to work on particular topics and issues.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) takes place at the end of each academic year and is the forum for an overview of the Sabbats’ year, the end of year Executive Committee report and MISU Accounts.


5. Take part in MISU events and campaigns


You’ll always find something to take part in on campus and if you want something to be organised or worked on, just let us know!

 

6. Give us your feedback!                              


We are your Students’ Union, we want to hear from you! Talk to your Sabbats, Exec, Class Rep or MISU staff, take part in MISU meetings or fill in MISU surveys.

 

Get involved